Overview
- A government order issued on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 formally created an Expert Advisory Committee to assess the likely strong El Niño and advise the Tamil Nadu Disaster Risk Reduction Agency.
- The panel will run through the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons and is charged with monitoring rainfall and drought, mapping vulnerable areas, and recommending early-warning and mitigation steps for droughts and floods.
- The Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration will chair the committee, which includes experts from Anna University, IIT Madras, WRI India, the Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company and other state technical bodies.
- Officials warned that a strong El Niño could cut southwest monsoon rainfall and reduce inflows to the Cauvery river, threatening irrigation and farmer incomes while raising the risk of localized heavy rains and flooding during the northeast monsoon.
- The committee’s science-led advice aims to translate seasonal forecasts into action, with likely effects including targeted water allocations, pre-positioning of relief resources, and earlier crop and reservoir management decisions.